Hi-tech crimefighting
FOURWAYS – Safety at Wiliam Nicol intersections has gone hi-tech.
Traffic law enforcement is a big talking point in Fourways, and the Douglasdale Community Policing Forum, Future City Fourways, Joburg Metro police, the office of the MMC for Safety and Security and the Metro Police Intelligence Operations Centre announced a new camera monitoring partnership.
For the test phase, cameras will be set up at four intersections in Fourways:
- William Nicol and Broadacres drives
- William Nicol Drive and Fourways Boulevard
- William Nicol Drive and Leslie Avenue
- William Nicol Drive and Kingfisher Drive.
The aim of the project is to enforce the law at all intersections on William Nicol Drive. The system will be linked in real time to the Metro Police Intelligence Operations Centre and will be monitored by trained operators.
State-of-the-art surveillance diagnostic software will be utilised to provide operators and data records of alerts for pre-determined and programmed activities. This information will provide a high-definition video record of infringements for prosecutions and will be used to direct police assets to identified alerts, said Jean Berdou, chair of the Douglasdale CPF and Future City Fourways.
“Part of the major problem we face with lawlessness on our roads is the lack of enforcement capability due to limited resources,” said Berdou.
The system works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has hi-tech features that will not be shared in the public domain.
Berdou added, “With the implementation of this system, traffic infringements such as running red lights, failing to stop at stop streets, driving in emergency lanes, or traffic islands and general road lawlessness will be detected and recorded.
“And under a new system still being tested, infringements shall result in prosecutions. Linked to the new Driver Demerit system, repeated infringements could result in suspension and even cancellation of driver’s licences.”
Berdou said they would like to expand the project across the precinct and into the city in months to come.
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